Decorative article



Jan. 2, 1968 M. SCHMIDT DECORATIVE ARTICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1965 INVENTOR M4 X SCH/W0 7' Jan. 2, 1968 M. SCHMIDT DECORATIVE ARTICLE Filed Sepfl. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MAX SCHMIDT United States Patent C) Claims The present invention relates to a Christmas tree decoration or hollow packing body which has a special effect in that in addition to the decorative character thereof, melodies can be played. Christmas tree or other decorative balls and possibly representations of figures having barrel organ mechanisms are known in many different embodiments. Without regard to the multitude of standing decorations or boxes provided with mobile figures or the like and equipped with barrel organ mechanisms, there have been known for many years circular boxes of wood, pressed cardboard or metal which can be suspended for playing purposes and the barrel organ mechanism of which is invisible from the outside. Such units can be wound by means of a winding mechanism so that it plays melodies during unwinding of its spring.

Furthermore, decorative balls of the Christmas tree type having an enclosed barrel organ mechanism are known, in which the ball is suspended by means of the winding up string or cord projecting from the ball and provided with suspension hook or the like, whereby the spring mechanism of the playing device is tensioned by pulling down the ball, which extends vertically upward along its string, and which is identical to the winding-up spring by extending from the barrel organ mechanism.

' This particular embodiment is objectionable in that it requires an extremely resistant totally inelastic casing, such as injection molded half-shells of plastic material, which must be drawn downwardly with substantial force for tensioning the spring of the barrel organ mechanism. The injection moulded half shells have, not to speak of the complicated and time-consuming and thus expensive mounting to a ball by gluing, also the further disadvantage of a relatively high weight, which together with the weight of the metal barrel organ mechanism per se make it impossible for a full unwinding of the playing roller.

The consequence of foregoing is that the barrel organ mechanism spring and thus the'musical instrument are operative to a maximum of of their unwinding capacity.

A further disadvantage is that balls of the above mentioned type cannot be used inall situations, especially as a Christmas tree decoration since only very strong branches of the tree which are resistant against the pulling force can be used for suspending the balls because by the winding of the barrel organ mechanism the ball is drawn vertically down downward about 8 inches, so that it is possible for the ball to come into contact with branches et cetera of the tree lying in its path, whereby the barrel organ mechanism spring cannot be wound completely or is impeded in its unwinding in the vertical upward direc tion.

It must be stated that the continuous contact with the ball for winding the b'arrel organ mechanism reduces the polish of the ball in such a manner that its purpose as a highly polished Christmas tree decoration is no longer realized. Finally, there is also the problem in the manufacture of the ball of incorporating an intermediate wall carrying the barrel organ mechanism into the casing which is still open because this intermediate wall cannotv be fastened from the exterior in order to leave the spherical surface uninterrupted'but must be fastened on the inner wall of one of the half shells by time-consuming adhesion or the like.

.a Christmas tree ball -tion of a bell having 3,361,615 Patented Jan. 2, 1968 The present invention overcomes the above and other disadvantageous features existing in the art by providing a hollow decorative body with a spring mechanism which can be wound from the outside either by a string or cord passing through a bore in the ball wall or by a key respectfully, fastened on a thin foil constituting a partition wall between two complementary transparent thin-walled half semi-spherical shells produced by a vacuum deep drawing process and provided with outwardly directed rims, with the rims being connected with the partition wall in one single operation, preferably by high frequency welding or gluing.

In the invention the rigidly connected extending parts are eliminated by stamping with the exception of the welding rim necessary for a durable connection, thus leaving a semi-circular susepnsion lug with an eyelet for receiving the suspension string or cord with the semi-spherical shells and the partition wall forming thereafter a homogeneous and stable unit which can withstand the subsequent necessary drawing stress by the winding string necessary for operation.

Instead of the partition wall consisting of a foil which is carrying the barrel organ mechanism and which is welded to the outwardly directed rims, the partition wall may be of die-cast material thereby providing an increased resistance and simple mounting for effecting closed spherical body as well as affording a clearer resonance for the melody played and augmenting the sound volume.

The invention is not limited to spherical objects and in a bell-shaped hollow body the organ mechanism is screwed on a partition wall adapted to the inner shape of the body and is die-cast on a circular supporting disk. Stabilizing surfaces and supporting elements die-cast in the body-assure a safe holding of the wall and of the supporting disc which can be attached to and closes the lower open end of the bell-shaped body.

Also, the invention comprehends the use of a hollow ball body as a packing unit and utilizes a part thereof for receiving a barrel organ mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description and annexed drawings, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective partly broken away of with a barrel organ mechanism, FIG. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away of the resonance plate as a dividing wall between the semispherical shells of a Christmas tree ball,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale and in section of the resonance plate shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in seca barrel organ mechanism,

FIG. 5 is a view along line VV of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a View of a packing ball with a barrel organ mechanism, partly in section and partly in elevation, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the partition wall of the packing ball in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, 1 and 2 denote very thin-walled semi-spherical shells manufactured preferably by a vacuum deep drawing process and are provided with outwardly directed rims 3 and 4 and a wall 5 of a very thin foil is secured between the rims 3, 4. The extending portions of the rims as well as those of the wall 5 are removed by a punching tool manufactured in such a way that in addition a lug 6 having an eyelet 8 for receiving a fastening string or cord 7, remains.

On the wall 5 which is situated in the dividing plane between the shells 1 and 2 there is fastened by screws basically known barrel organ mechanism 9 whereby roll winding or spring axis 12 receiving winding roll 11 is string and at the lower end of the winding string 13 there is provided a decorative cap 16 with a lug 17 adapted to be clamped into the bore 14 so that the string cannot come out of the hollow body.

The roll winding or spring axis 12 is provided with an extension arranged in such a way that it can be attached by theading. The extension extends into a bore 19 in the ball wall and has a square opening 20 for receiving a key, by means of which the spring mechanism can be wound independently and alternatively with the roller winding.

The above arrangement is particularly efiicacious in that if the winding string breaks or it is not desirable to operate the decoration with the string, the mechanism can be Wound by means of a key. It will be appreciated that since the service life of the organ mechanism is relatively long and as it is not possible to replace a broken winding string, the decoration can be continued to be used by reason of the winding key.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a further embodiment of a hollow decorative ball wherein use is made of a center wall resonance plate 21 of die-cast plastic material. This wall has a continuous broad rib 22 provided with shoulders 23 around its periphery and a central outwardly directed rim 24. The rim 24 serves as a stop for two semi-spherical shells 25, 26, which can be operably associated with each other. The shells 25, 26, the diameter of each of which is somewhat less than that of the plate 21 are pressed with their inner rims over the curved shoulders 23, whereby rim flanges 27 of the shells 25, 26 rest against each other with their inner surfaces and cover in a pleasing manner the rim 24.

The resonance plate 21 has a bore 28 with a plurality of lugs 29 bent inwardly at right angles to the plane of the plate. The string winding roll such as shown at 11 in FIG. 1 protrudes through the bore, whereby the lugs 29 serve as guide elements for the string.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the decorative body is in the form of a bell and bell body 30 of plastic material receives in its interior a barrel organ mechanism 31. On a circular disk or plate 32 coresponding substantially to the inner diameter of the bell edge is die-cast a vertical carrier wall 3 3 tapering towards the top, and to which the barrel organ mechanism is fastened preferably by means of screws. Through a bore such as disclosed at 28 in FIG. 2 winding roll 34 for the barrel organ mechanism protrudes and its string 35 guided vertically downward extends through a further bore 36 in the plate 32 and carries at its lower end a bell hammer 67 which may simulate a Christmas tree ball.

It will be seen that the carrier wall 3 3 is stabilized by oppositely disposed reinforcing elements 3 8 and 3 9 and a manipulating piece 40 projects beyond the closed or upper end of the bell body. The manipulating piece 40* is provided with a screw 42 which threadedly engages an extension 41 carried by the wall 33. It will be appreciated that by proper turning movement of the manipulating piece 46 and its coaction with the extension 41 the plate 32 may be brought into tight engagement with a step 43 provided on the inner surface of the rim portion at the open end of the bell body.

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate another form of the invention in which a decorative ball which can be utilized as a packing unit comprises a carrier element 44 in the nature of a dish. The carrier element 44 is formed with a peripheral outwardly directed rim 4-5 which is adapted to be secured to an outwardly directed rim 46 provided on a semi-spherical shell 48. A second and complementary semi-spherical shell 49 is also formed with an out- 4 wardly directed rim 47 and, as shown in FIGURE 6, the peripheral rim 45 is sandwiched between the rims 46 and 47.

The carrier element 44 also includes a side wall 50 and a fiat base wall 51 and the wall 5 1 is formed with a recess 52 adapted to receive winding roll 53 of a barrel organ mechanism 54. It will be appreciated that the organ mechanism is completely covered and separated from an interior space 55 which may receive a suitable article or articles.

Winding string 57 passes along a radially directed groove 56 which communicates with an opening 58 in the wall of the shell 48.

It will also be noted that the shell 49 is formed with an opening 59 through which an article may be introduced into and removed from the space 58 and the shell 49 is adapted to be covered by a semi-spherical shell 60 which can be placed over the shell 49 and removed therefrom when desired.

The invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity to the showings in the drawings but changes or modifications may be made therein so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A decorative hollow body comprising two complementary thin-walled semi-spherical shells, an outwardly directed rim for each semi-spherical shell, means joining said rims for providing a spherical hollow body, means within the hollow body dividing the interior thereof into two chambers and providing a connecting wall between the two shells, said connecting wall is defined by a thin foil of plastic material attached to the outwardly directed rims, a spring windable barrel organ mechanism mounted on said connecting wall with said connecting wall also serving as a resonance plate for better tone reproduction, and means actuatable exteriorly of the hollow body and operably connected to said organ mechanism for winding said mechanism.

2. A decorative hollow body comprising two complementary thin-walled semi-spherical shells, an outwardly directed rim for each semi-spherical shell, means joining said rims for providing a spherical hollow body, means within the hollow body dividing the interior thereof into two chambers and providing a connecting wall between the two shells, said connecting wall is defined by a plate of die-cast plastic material provided with a pair of oppositely directed shoulders and an outwardly extending rim with said rim being located between the outwardly directed rims of the semi-spherical shells and the shoulders underlying the inner surfaces of the shells adjacent the outwardly directed rims, :a spring windable barrel organ mechanism mounted on said connecting wall with said connecting wall also serving as a resonance plate for better tone reproduction, and means actuatable exteriorly of the hollow body and operably connected to said organ mechanism for winding said mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,916,850 12/1959 Vlachos 46-l75 X 2,942,379 6/1960 Oman et al. 46l75 3,093,928 6/ 1963 Ostrander 46-117 2,705,387 4/1955 Handler et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 865,734 4/1961 Great Britain. 793,223 4/ 1958 Great Britain.

ROBERT F. BURNETT, Primary Examiner.

ALEXANDER WYMAN, Examiner.

W. A. POWELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DECORATIVE HOLLOW BODY COMPRISING TWO COMPLEMENTARY THIN-WALLED SEMI-SPHERICAL SHELLS, AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED RIM FOR EACH SEMI-SPHERICAL SHELL, MEANS JOINING SAID RIMS FOR PROVIDING A SPHERICAL HOLLOW BODY, MEANS WITHIN THE HOLLOW BODY DIVIDING THE INTERIOR THEREOF INTO TWO CHAMBERS AND PROVIDING A CONNECTING WALL BETWEEN THE TWO SHELLS, SAID CONNECTING WALL IS DEFINED BY A THIN FOIL OF PLASTIC MATERIAL ATTACHED TO THE OUTWARDLY DIRECTED 